Parental Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Adolescent Sex Education in Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria

Background: The period of adolescence is characterized by rapid physical and cognitive growth along with sexual maturation. Parents are obligated to educate adolescents on matters of sex and relationships with age-appropriate information using culturally relevant methods and providing scientifically accurate and non-judgmental information. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude and practice of sex education among parents in Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria.Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study among 350 parents selected by multi-stage sampling technique. Data were collected using a pretested intervieweradministered questionnaire and analyzed using Epi info version 7.2 statistical software. The Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were used to determine statistical associations. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: The mean age of the respondents was 46.1±10.2 years. The male to female ratio was 1.6:1. About two-thirds, 227 (67.2%) opined that sex education is best commenced in primary school. Overall, 311 (92.0%) had good knowledge, 323 (95.6%) of the respondents had positive attitudes while 255 (75.3%) had good practice of sex education. The major barrier to the practice of sex education was the lack of a general protocol to guide parents. Good knowledge and positive attitudes were significantly associated with practicing sex education (p<0.001).Conclusion: Although parents mostly had good knowledge, positive attitudes and good practice of sex education, a quarter of them still had poor practice of sex education mostly due to the lack of a protocol to guide them. Sex education programs and guidelines to encourage parents should be developed Keywords: Knowledge; Attitude; Practice; Adolescents Sex Education; Parents; Lagos